The move follows news that the local authortity is considering close primary schools, libraries, cutting free milk and school dinners and the elderly welfare grant to balance its books by 2018.

Council Tax rates have been frozen across Scotland since the SNP came to power in 2007.

Councillors voted to reject the imposition of its budget settlement from the Scottish Government when they met yesterday (Wednesday).

According to its officers, WDC says that future funding from the Scottish Government will reduce significantly.

The Labour administration has now called for urgent talks with the Scottish Government amongst a growing public backlash against the cuts.

In the motion, Elected members agreed to demand an extra three per cent be added to the Council’s budget in each of the next three years by the Scottish Government.

They also wanted the powers to increase Council Tax in each of the next three years, in consultation with residents, and without sanctions from the Scottish Government.

It is hoped Councillor Martin Rooney, leader of the council, the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Jonathan McColl and the area's MSPs would attend any meeting.

Dumbarton councillor David McBride put forward the motion and said: “This Council rejects the imposition of the budget settlement from the Scottish Government to West Dunbartonshire.

"The reduced funding is forcing council officers to put forward damaging savings proposals in order to close the £17 million gap in our finances. This is deeply worrying and we need action now to stop operational services reaching breaking point.

“We want the Scottish Government to increase the council’s annual budget by three per cent for the next three years and we want the power to increase Council Tax in the next three years without sanction from the Scottish Government. We will now look to meet with Mr Swinney to press the case for West Dunbartonshire.” Leader of the opposition Jonathan McColl put forward an amendment proposing that the council reject the “inadequate transfer” of money from the UK Government to the Scottish Goverment and its impact on West Dunbartonshire Council and that an urgent meeting with MPs should be held to discuss this.

He said the council had the “freedom” to increase Council Tax and should “thank” the Scottish Government for the “fully funded freeze”.

He added: “The fact of the matter is that Scottish Government only has so much money so to try and pin blame and claw money from the Scottish Government which they do not have is not only unrealistic it is its irresponsible and childish party politics of the worst kind.” Councillor George Black said: “This should be about the people of West Dunbartonshire, not politics. I’ve always known that people in this community are prepared to pay for services, What they are not prepared to pay for is cuts to services or no services.”